Records indicate the family bought train tickets in Thayer for the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Raildroad for Humboldt. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider They were dubbed "The Redhead Murders.". More murders across America are going unsolved, exacerbating the grief of families already reeling and worsening the largely cracked trust between police and the public, especially communities of color most affected by gun violence. The worst part of the disaster was that it should never have happened; evidence at the site after it proved it had been created by an arsonist. At the time of her death, Grosse-Pointe law enforcement believed Romain had died by suicide, but her family believes she was the victim of foul play. The bodies had only been found after Butler's death. A man namedJohn Mark Karr confessed to the murder in 2006, but it was ruled to be false since he couldn't provide any additional details and his DNA didn't match what was discovered at the scene. The son of LeRoy Dick, the Osage Township trustee who headed the search of the Bender property, donated the hammers to the Bender Museum in 1967. The family of a North Carolina teen who vanished from the Golden Gate Bridge nearly three years ago is offering a reward for information, as surveillance footage of her last movements has left investigators and loved ones "baffled.". Gang rivalries were suspected as a motive, but his death has spawned a host of conspiracy theories, including some that believe he's still alive. Love Kansas? When they returned to the home, Col. York tried to induce this wonderful mistress of the devil to reveal where the body of his brother was. In 1988, Jane Boroski, who was seven months pregnant, was approached in a convenience store parking lot by a man who proceeded to stab her 27 times. Copyright 2007 - 2023 All Rights Reserved. firefighters dies, Six Kansas City firefighters killed in 1988 explosion, Reporter still looking for justice in the 1988 explosion that killed six K.C. fire, explosion (Page 1), New allegations uncovered in deadly blast, Man convicted in 1988 explosion that killed 8 K.C. Reporters from as far away as New York City and Chicago visited the property, but its unknown what exactly happened to the Bender family from there. Marler's disappearance was featured on the TV show "Unsolved Mysteries.". The siblings traveled to an outlaw colony somewhere between Texas and New Mexico. Several days lapsed before investigators combed through the Bender property in part because of bad weather. In 1977, 19-year-oldTerri Jentz and her college roommate Shayna Weiss spent the night at Cline Falls State Park while on a cross-country bike trip. There was an update on his case in March 2021, with U.S. The parents spoke little English, but the second generation, who was approximately in their 20s, could speak it proficiently. Word of the murders spread through newspapers. The murders remain "one of Houston's most infamous unsolved slayings," according to KHOU11. They hoped a full examination of the area would solve the crisis. A search of the Bender property turned up three hammers: a shoe hammer, a claw hammer, and a sledgehammer. The cause of death could not be determined from an autopsy. Their murder remains unsolved. The breastbone had been driven in. The blood-stained bedstead was smashed to pieces and divided in the crowd, all the shrubbery and young trees were broken or torn up and carried away, and pieces of the house torn off by the curious. He was about to radio to Pumpers 41 and 30 when a large explosion occurred. Officers brought the ladies to Kansas from Illinois, but police released them shortly. Kansas Missing & Unsolved - Ricky Tebrugge Founder/Creator Those who fell for the poster bait became victims of the Bender family. In the present, the town is allocated to Montgomery County. As NBC Dateline tells us, the party was quite a large one. firefighters, Bryan Sheppard, convicted in deaths of 6 K.C. Jaclyn Dowaliby was taken from her bedroom as she slept in 1988 when someone broke through theMidlothian, Illinois, home's basement window, ABC7 reports. I think that was the problem, Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed 18 times, the evidence against him was circumstantial. More than 30 years later, police are reopening the investigation. When that party ended after a fight broke out, guests headed to the party at a farmhouse that Brooks was attending. underground drug trade along Cache Road in Lawton. most-covered, watched and listened-to case in the recent history of the state. Bender Family property. His body was uncovered by his family at a creek. Four days after Kelly Lynn Albright disappeared from her family's home, she was found dead in a field. It was never confirmed if he was that man a deputy from Cherryvale went to look at the detainee, but the suspect had severed off his foot to escape irons. Kansas Category page. Description. No one knows for sure. firefighters, testifies at resentencing hearing, Man convicted in 1988 deaths of 6 K.C. The group found the Bender property empty of food, clothing, and personal possessions. Alonzo Brooks update: New lead in 'Unsolved Mysteries' case | The There were about six or seven hundred persons from all parts of the surrounding country, in wagons, carriages, buggies, and on horseback. In the early 1880s, authorities took two women into custody. Henry was found naked, buried under a stack of boards. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Law and order was thin vigilance committees took matters into their own hands dolling out justice willy-nilly. The ooze smeared itself over their palms and dribbled through their fingers. She was found dead on August 22 in a barn inKennebunk with a rope around her neck. Between 1968 and 1982, seven women affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison were killed by strangling and stabbing. The FBI continues to seek information regarding a Kansas case was featured on the Netflix Unsolved Mysteries series. JonBenet Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her family's home on December 26, 1996. Unsolved Mysteries (TV Series 1987-2010) - IMDb The son had a slight German accent, and people often underestimated his intelligence for the way he sounded. The victim and the killer still remain unidentified. One arm was broken. Details: Twenty-three-year-old Alonzo Brooks was last seen at a house party on the night of April 3, 2004 outside of La Cygne, Kansas. Its important to keep in mind that the widespread national attention on the Bender family in the late 19thcentury makes it difficult to separate fact from fiction. His name was Tom Dixon. The remains were reportedly found about 10 miles from Cancun's beach and hotel zone Eight bodies were discovered dumped near a Cancun resort in Mexico, one of the country's most popular tourism . She also said that her mother told her after the call if anything sinister happened to her, they were to look to Matouk as the suspect. Unsolved Mysteries: Created by John Cosgrove, Terry Dunn Meurer. Elvira acted like she couldnt understand the accusation made against her because of her limited English, but the younger Benders denied the claim. Hours later, her car was found parked along the highway in Kailua, and her decomposing body was found 10 days later. TheKansas City Timesdescribed the discovery of one of the victims bodies as grisly: The little girl was probably eight years of age, and had long, sunny hair, and some traces of beauty on a countenance that was not yet entirely disfigured by decay. There were cords around her right wrist and neck and she was wearing her favorite pageant nightgown, according to Vanity Fair. She published her findings in the book: Rey Rivera, Suicide or Homicide? This makes the story elusive but the Bender family when they were living was difficult to peg down. The colonel didnt investigate further that day. The article is kept in theLibrary of Congress. Despite a hefty reward. Some children who went missing would be in their 30s and 40s today. The exact number of victims is unknown, but it could be as many as 11 women. The case involves the 2004 suspicious death of Alonzo Brooks in La Cygne, Kansas. A five-part Showtime documentary "Murder in the Bayou" profiled the cases and featured footage of one of the victims, Necole Jean Guillory, telling investigators about rampant misconduct and trafficking inside the jail. The holiday season is in full swingand withthat comes the added expenses of gifts, meals, travel and more. The six Kansas City firefighters who were killed. The family also setup a general store where they sold dry goods. Six-year-old Morgan Nick was last seen on June 9, 1995 at a ballpark in Alma, Arkansas, according to 5 News. On August 4, 1892, Andrew Jackson Borden and his second wife, Abby, were bludgeoned to death with an ax, New England Today reports. Robert and Helen Sims and their daughter Joy were found bound, gagged, stabbed, and shot in their Tallahassee home onOctober 22, 1966, WCTV reports. At Chanute, about 15 miles north of Thayer, the siblings left the train and caught the MK&T train south to Red River County, near Denison, Texas. As seen in the fifth episode of Unsolved Mysteries season 2, "Lady in the Lake," Romain's cousin, Tim Matouk, was named one of the primary suspects in her death. 1,567 talking about this. The party Brooks had attended was held in La Cygne, a heavily white-dominated town. Unsolved Crimes - Kansas City Metro Crime Stoppers Edit Edit source View history Talk (0) Trending pages. More than 30 years later, Fisher's estranged wife was charged with first-degree murder. The guards called the fire department and were concerned . Unsolved Mysteries tweeted: "UPDATE: The FBI learned of the second party in La Cygne, Kansas the night Alonzo Brooks disappeared. A witness saw a man in a compact car throw her body in a ditch along the side of the road and helped police draw up a sketch. The case was featured on People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery, and is the subject of the true crime book "What Happened in Craig: Alaska's Worst Unsolved Mass Murder.". Colonel York led a company of some fifty men. The elder Benders did not leave the train at Humboldt. A historic marker was mounted for "The Boy in the Box" in Philadelphia in 2017. Police think that whoever killed the 16-year-oldknew her. A collection of photocopied newspaper articles from the Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times detailing various unsolved murders. After two years of waiting, Volume Three of Unsolved Mysteries has made its way to Netflix. Watch Unsolved Mysteries | Netflix Official Site When the colonel repeated the story about the knives, Elvira allegedly became aggressive. Almost all the bodies had similar injuries: heads bashed in with a hammer and their throats cut. There are at least four known victims, separated by 1200 miles. They never came back out. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, PSUs choir students perform Night Songs Final, Selling mattresses to support Carthage High Schools, The Goodyear Blimp makes a stop in Joplin, Good Samaritan credited for helping catch alleged. Why Haven't Kansas City, Kansas, Police Done More About A Long - KCUR Each article is annotated with its date and source of publication. Today little remains of the original site. The 11 women buried there had all had connections to drugs and prostitution, and it took police a year to identify all of the remains. A man checked into a hotel in Kansas City with no luggage.. He also discussed in depth the phone call between himself and Romain, which led family members to suspect he may be the killer. But the townsfolk ofFall River never stopped believing that she was guilty and ostracized her for the rest of her life. What Happened to Alonzo Brooks from Unsolved Mysteries? FBI Releases They can also submit an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip at 316-267-2111 or . The colonel and the small army were under the impression that the Bender and a neighboring family, the Roaches, were guilty in the string of disappearances. Evelyn Williams, 72, an active member of the community in the small town of Pinehurst, North Carolina. Over 50 years later, the case remains cold. All of the bodies were found along major highways. Police originally thought it was the body of a sex worker, but soon discovered that the victim was much younger than they expected between 8 and 11 years old. Lisa Au was 19 years old and working as a hairdresser in 1982. Some historians theorize the Bender family killed people not just for money but for sport. Calvin is among several Black women in Kansas City, Kansas, whose murders have remained unsolved for years. George and Earl were also seen at their mother's home shortly after the explosion; she lived just a few minutes away from the site. Her body was found a week later inBlue Island with a rope from the family's garage tied around her neck. The area was known for horse thievery and violent crimes. They also found George Longcur and his infant child. Since the release of Unsolved Mysteries, an investigation by forensic Miryam Moya has invalidated the theory of suicide. Author Joseph Citro coined the term "Bennington Triangle" in 1992. To Captain Halloran, a check of the area suggested that the explosives had been properly stored in clearly-marked storage sheds known as "bunkers". The perpetrator or perpetrators were never found. Marshals believing Eubanks was living in the Los Angeles area after receiving photographs of the fugitive allegedly working and socializing with friends. Intense rivalry between abolitionist and pro-slavery forces earned the then territory the nickname "Bleeding Kansas." Years after slavery ended, southeast Kansas still maintained a reputation. Unsolved Mysteries - The Original, Iconic Television Series After all nine episodes of season 3 have aired on Netflix, it is possible those cases could receive updates, tooor even be solved. According to the FBI, during this investigation, new information has come to light surrounding the evening of Brooks death. The Benders built a small inn for travelers crossing the Osage Trail it was the only route at the time for traveling further west. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Brooks death. 6 Firefighters Die in Blast in Kansas City, Police say arsonist responsible for explosion that killed 6 firefighters, Firefighters mourned; arson probe continues, Fifth suspect in K.C. Attendees left the party after a fight broke out, then headed to the Farmhouse where Alonzo was last seen. Unsolved Mysteries tweeted: "UPDATE: The FBI learned of the second party in La Cygne, Kansas the night Alonzo Brooks disappeared. Her family maintains a Facebook group to solicit tips from the public, and the cold case was featured on Dateline NBC. They woke up to a truck driving over their tent. From the beginning, they suspected that arson was the cause of the fires since they were separate and had started simultaneously. After opening the trap, the team found a blood splattered room the floors in particular needed seriously cleaning. Its about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City. During the conversations with Kate, the unsuspecting traveler would be taken over by one of the two Bender men. During their conversation, he vehemently denied killing Romain. She had found a 100-acre patch of desert in Albuquerque's Southwest Mesa that contained the remains of 11 women. Osborne, Kansas - Chamber of Commerce Facebook 2. one of the biggest crime scenes in US history, one of the state's biggest murder mysteries. In 1985, two couples disappeared in the wooded areas of Pierce and Lewis counties. Federal Bureau of Investigation In April, the FBI offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Alonzo Brooks' death. Unsolved Kansas Murders His body was later discovered in Middle Creek, adjacent to the farmhouse, on May 1, 2004. Kansas, in what is now Kansas City, originally began life in late 1856, created by abolitionists. Missing Since: November 1988. Unsolved Mysteries Select a season Release year: 2022 In the third installment of this iconic docuseries, real people experience unthinkable crimes, puzzling disappearances and paranormal happenings. Various authors have claimed to have solved the case with books such as "Slaughter on North LaSalle" by Robert L. Snow and "The LaSalle Street Murders" by Carol Sissom, but the Indianapolis Police Department still considers it an open case. I-70 Killer; Devin Williams; Alonzo Brooks; Jodie Bordeaux . During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped.". He said a masked man had carried out the attack, but investigators considered him the prime suspect. Six-year-old Morgan Nick waslast seen on June 9, 1995 at a ballpark in Alma, Arkansas,according to 5 News. Aliases: None known Ancient Mysteries; UFO Phenomenon; Cryptozoology; All Categories. Early in the investigation they discovered the Benders wagon. Four of their nine children escaped. Mary Schlais was found dead in Spring Brook Township in 1974, stabbed 15 times. Unsolved mysteries in Kansas: the bloodbath Bender family - WDAF-TV Nick's family founded theMorgan Nick Foundationto provide immediate assistance to families of missing children. Her parents also discovered a ransom note asking for $118,000, according to CNN. A bad odor lingered from the trap door underneath a bed; it was nailed shut. At least 75 people attended the emergency meeting, including Colonel York and both John Bender, Sr. and John Bender, Jr. Its probable they killed more than 20 altogether. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Not long after, Flora heard shots from a neighboring apartment complex and called to see if Vanessa was OK. She didn't pick up the phone. Results: Captured. In 2004, the body of a Black man named Alonzo Brooks was found in a creek. "They just couldn't narrow it down.". They have DNA evidence but no source for it yet, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. Eight people, including a man, his pregnant wife, their two children, and teenage deckhands, were shot to death aboard a fishing boat called the Investor on September 6, 1982, People Magazine reported. Unsolved Mysteries (TV Series 2020- ) - IMDb There are no documents available that confirm where the family emigrated from, but it is widely speculated they came from Germany. Explore. FBI Releases New Details in Unsolved Kansas Case They murdered at least 11 people. Today were left with a handful of documents and artifacts to piece together. Now, over a decade after the trail went cold, the FBI exhumed Brooks' body after Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" brought . The grave was dug up at a Topeka. Why Alonzo Brooks' Death Demanded Further Investigation - E! Online You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Carolyn Wasilewski, 14, was the oldest of seven children. The team broke up the flooring they didnt discover any bodies or remains there. On March 28, 1873, Colonel York arrived at the Benders bed and breakfast inn. The next morning, an agent acting for the horse's owner showed up at Gary Simmons' office. The women then slit the victims throat. However, he escaped from jail in 1973 and has been on the run for the past 50 years. Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug said his death is an "unresolved death case.". In 1923, his wife donated the knife to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. The Herald Leader also called her murder "Lexington's most notorious cold case.". They searched through the wreckage for clues. Between 1920 and 1950, as many as 10 people mysteriously disappeared in a patch of woods surroundingGlastenbury Mountain in southwestern Vermont. A couple of men narrowly saved themselves from death. Sydney West, 19, was last seen on the iconic San Francisco landmark around 6:45 a.m. PT on Sept. 30, 2020. But when the blaze was finally put out, firefighters found no trace of their other five children. Miss Katie Bender. She gained notoriety for conducting sances and for advocating free love. This list of unsolved murders includes notable cases where victims have been murdered under unknown circumstances. Without further ado, let me introduce you to the Bender family: Murderpedia Murderpedia While the Kansas Bureau of Investigation ruled that his death wasn't a hate crime, new FBI findings have cast doubt on that conclusion. Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor, and Tracy Roberts were found dead behind the Golden Key Motel in Atlantic City in 2006. Shawnee County cold cases: 15 killings unsolved in, around Topeka Lester Eubanks was convicted of the 1965 murder and attempted rape of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener. AWeekly Kansas Chiefarticle described the garish setting in pristine detail: On last Sunday there were about one thousand men, women, and children at the Bender grounds, gazing with mingled emotions of horror and curiosity. On March 12, 1978, Chad Burgett returned home to Phoenix after a weekend away with his mother to find his sister, Pauline Robbin, murdered with multiple stab wounds. Combines dramatic re-enactments, interviews and updates, to tell stories of real mysteries, from human to the supernatural. The Baltimore Police Department recorded that the young filmmaker died in an apparent suicide, but Unsolved Mysteries cast doubt over this conclusion, suggesting his fall from the top of the Baltimore hotel may have been staged. Of the five missing people, only the bodies of Kristina Nelson, Jacqueline "Brandy" Miller, and Kirstin David were found. A family friend namedGlenn Davis was a suspect in the murder, but the evidence against him was circumstantial. She positively refused her satanic aid at this time, giving at her reason therefore that she could not do so in the day time, and while there were so many men and so much noise about.. ", In the 1970s, '80s, and even into the '90s, bodies of redheaded women were found in Memphis, Jellico, Ashland City, and Greenville, Tennessee, as well as Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. He had been on his way to the bank when he was shot and robbed of $10,000. He declined to appear in the Netflix episode but later agreed to an interview with Unsolved Mysteries creator Terry Dunn Meurer. Reward Poster | Kansas Historical Society. When the owner of the legendary 2nd Ave Deli on the Lower East Side was killed in 1996, it shocked New York. If you need some extra cash, gold, or jewels, just go uncover one of these 10 hidden Kansas treasures: 1. The story behind "Gabby's Bones" remains a mystery. Based upon interviews of individuals who had not previously spoken with investigators, the FBI has learned there was another party, the same evening, a relatively short distance away from the party Brooks attended. Some tipsters claimed that the arsonists had planned to steal from the construction site. When she was found with her throat slashed in a utility room outside her garage in 1989, the killer left no clues and detectives were baffled. In 1884, police arrested an elderly man in Montana. A detective claimed he traced the pair to the border where he found John Jr. died of apoplexy a sudden death often resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. Speculation of how Alonzo died varies from a hate crime to him dying accidentally and it being covered up. Some have also reported UFO activity and Bigfoot sightings in the area.